Date of Award

2008

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Psychology

Keywords

Psychology, Social.

Supervisor

Lafreniere, Kathryn (Psychology)

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

The present study sought to expand the existing literature on sexual minority youth by investigating the manner by which these youth successfully negotiate maturing within a heterosexist society. Through the use of participatory action research (PAR) with nine sexual minority youth, I explored the ways in which sexual minority youth resist heterosexism within the contexts of school and work. Although the purpose of this study was to examine sexual minority youth's resistance at school and work, a general model of resistance emerged from the grounded theory analysis which characterized resistance as a culturally situated, dynamic phenomenon that arises out of perceived inequality, is motivated by a sense of injustice and is understood by nine underlying categories--avoidance, dismissal, focusing on the positive, reframing, reclamation, social support, disclosure, confrontation, and education. The use of PAR with sexual minority youth offered important benefits to the research process and as well as difficultchallenges.

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